Fifty years after their break up, The Beatles, easily the most famous band throughout history, released their new hit single “Now and Then” on Nov. 2, 2023. Their latest song, which was produced using AI technology, will be their last ever song as a band.
John Lennon originally wrote and recorded this song in 1977, just before his death on Dec. 8, 1980. Using AI, Lennon’s vocals from the background noise was separated from the originally-recorded demo. Making sure all four Beatles appeared in the song, George Harrison’s previously recorded guitar parts were also added in.
Paul McCartney, in an interview with The Guardian, said he often thought if it was the right thing to finish Lennon’s songs.
“Every time I thought like that I thought, wait a minute, let’s say I had a chance to ask John, I’m telling you, I know the answer would have been ‘Yeah!’” McCartney said in the interview.
This newly-released single is reaching a younger audience, including a high school senior, Mia Keith, in Arizona.
“I would say that “Now and Then” has beautiful lyrics but it doesn’t sound like a Beatles song especially because two out of four of them are dead. It’s a 2/4 Beatles song and it sounds less smooth than it normally does. They can’t harmonize like they were known for,” Keith said.
“Now and Then” broke the internet for Beatles fans, and just one day after its release, the song hit No. 7 on Billboard 100, and became the second most streamed Beatles song just behind “Here Comes the Sun.” “Now and Then” has been a sweeping moment for The Beatles fans, Nobody could have ever imagined a new song appearing 60 years later.
